US Pressure Groups Case Studies Flashcards
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Represents the interests of citizens over 50 yrs old
38 million members as of 2018 – a significant number of potential voters
Testified before Congress in support of the Older Americans Act and the amendments to Social Security that created the Medicare Program, which President Johnson enacted into law in 1965.
Advocated for the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as well as the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), aiming to treat age discrimination as seriously as other forms of workplace discrimination.
AARP has a long history of lobbying at the federal, state, and local levels, though the totals it has spent on traditional lobbying have declined from a peak of $36 million in 2005 to $8.2 million in 2018. However, the organization also spends heavily on political advertising and grassroots campaigns to support its preferred legislation.
American Bar Association
Sectional group – represents interests of the legal profession
Impact on judicial branch - evaluates professional qualifications of judicial nominees
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Cause group for citizens liberties
Very successful via litigation including
Reno v. ACLU (1997) when the Court struck down the Communications Decency Act, an attempt by Congress to censor “indecent speech” on the internet
McCreary v ACLU 2005 – Ruled display of 10 Commandments in Kentucky courthouse was unconstitutional (would represent an established religion being imposed on others)
Obergefell v Hodges 2015 – stopped states banning same-sex marriage
56 challenges to the Trump administration 2017-18 including against the Muslim travel ban, and 2017 ban on transgender people in the military
ACLU has also appeared before the US Supreme Court more than any organisation outside the US department of justice.
Supported by the existence of clear constitutional rights in the USA
Over 1,800,000 members as of 2018 with an annual budget of 300,000,000 US dollars.
Representatives in each state enhance its activity. For example in a 20 month period beginning in 2004: New Jersey ACLU were involved in 51 cases: 35 in state courts and 16 in federal courts
Also publish an annual voting scorecard of congress, to allow people to see how politicians respond to issues they care about
Provides education- work to ensure people aware of their rights & highlight major issues e.g., threats to abortion, Patriot Act being too extensive.
American Farm Bureau Federation
Sectional group representing agricultural interests
Significant donors to the Republican Party
Maintain 22 lobbyists in DC
Hostile to action on climate change as this would need changes to current farming practices.
AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations)
Sectional group aiming for A better life for working people
Represents 12 million acting and retired workers.
Had nearly 20 million members in 1979 but has lost membership and finances since.
Educate voters by publishing scorecards on legislators
Active engagement in elections eg 2010 elections - 100,000 volunteers went door-to-door to promote endorsed candidates to 13 million union voters in 32 states. Also engage members to write letters to individual legislators urging them to vote on key legislation, e.g. 2022 letter writing campaign to support the Postal Service Reform Act
Evidence of influence includes 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed in 2009 by Obama allowing women to sue over pay discrimination
Recently, they have helped to promote the passage of the Build Back Better Act and lobbied people in Congress to rescind Trump’s Labour Department’s anti-worker legislation
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
AIPAC’s stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation related to Israel.
AIPAC has created “caucuses” in every congressional district, with AIPAC staffers organizing every district’s Jewish community, regardless of size.
It influences lawmakers in other ways by matching an AIPAC member with shared interests to a member of Congress. AIPAC’s office can call on “five to 15” key contacts for every senator.
Offers carefully curated trips to Israel for legislators and other opinion-makers, all-expenses-paid for by AIPAC’s charitable arm, the American Israel Education Foundation. In 2005 alone, more than 100 members of Congress visited Israel, some multiple times.
Until 2021, did not raise funds for political candidates itself, but now has its own PAC and plans for a Super-PAC, which can spend money on behalf of candidates
Accused of acting as an agent of the Israeli government, holding members of the United States Congress ‘hostage’ from various critics.
In 1997, Fortune magazine named AIPAC the second-most powerful influence group in Washington D.C.
High-ranking Democrats, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have chosen to make addresses to AIPAC
In 2005, Lawrence Franklin, a Pentagon analyst, pleaded guilty to espionage charges of passing U.S. government secrets to AIPAC policy director Steven Rosen and AIPAC senior Iran analyst Keith Weissman, in what is known as the AIPAC espionage scandal, showing that the pressure group has access to extremely high places in the executive branch
American Medical Association (AMA)
Sectional group for the medical profession
One of the wealthiest lobbying groups, and its PAC dispenses money to political campaigns of both parties
By money spent, the AMA is the nation’s third largest lobbying organization of the last 20 years, behind only the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Realtors
Effective campaigner against universal coverage via “Medicare for All”. Has lobbied against “socialized medicine” since the Truman era.
Ballard Partners
Had spent years lobbying Florida state government on behalf of the Trump Organization (representing 500 businesses owned by Trump) and raised millions for Trumps campaigns. Gained 100 new clients in less than 2 years once Trump became president earning over $28m including Amazon, General Motors, American Airlines.
Black Lives Matter (BLM)
Established 2013 but gained massive momentum worldwide following the death of George Floyd in 2020, setting an agenda for change.
Legislation
1.) 62 of the 100 largest cities in the US have passed policies which restrict the use of chokeholds by police.
2.) BLM have been integral to the passing of “Breonna’s Law” in Louisville, Kentucky. This law prevents “no knock” search warrants.
3.) NY state legislature repealed 50-A. This means police disciplinary records are now accessible to the public.
Education
1.) School districts are taking measures such as racial equity policies, reforming teaching methods and training staff. e.g., Milwaukee, San Diego, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia
Culture and Society
2.) Washington Commanders American Football Team changing the formerly racist identity of their team and mascot after years of pressure from Native-led organisations
3.) The Paramount Network has pulled the TV show “Cops” as some say it glorified the over-policing of marginalised communities.
Climate Direct Action
Direct action protests in 2016 turned off valves on controversial tar sands oil from Canada (15% of US crude oil imports) for nearly a day – several members convicted on felony charges and the groups was classified as extremist by the Dept of Homeland Security.
EMILY’s List
Seeks election of prochoice Democratic women - recruits candidates, raises early funding, then supports them through the election process right through to getting out the vote. 2018 spent $37 million which led to record numbers of female members of Congress. 2020 spent $5.5million on digital advertising for Kamala Harris, with 7 new EMILY’s list candidates elected to the House.
Everytown for Gun Safety
Cause group that together with another group called Giffords outspent the NRA in 2018 midterms.
League of Conservation Voters
Advocates for sound environmental laws and policies, holds elected officials accountable for their votes and actions on the environment, and elects pro-environment candidates
LCV tracks the voting records of members of Congress on environmental issues in its National Environmental Scorecard
Publishes “Dirty Dozen” list every two years – 12 candidates with worst record on environmental conservation
Actions against government LCV opposed many of President George W. Bush’s environmental policies.
In 2012 it was the top-spending, non-disclosing liberal group in the 2012 election cycle, investing about $11 million in political advertisements.
Key example - In 2018 spent $85million on electoral campaigning (contrast to 2012 shows the escalation of campaign finance), more than any other group – successful in helping the Democrats retake the House as 60 of LCV candidates were elected
In 2020 512 of their federal list were defeated, and 6/12 at state level.
Contributes in a negative way, focuses its money AGAINST politicians more often that not - in the 2016 election cycle they spent $7 million to help Democrats and $8 million to frustrate Republicans
Lockheed Martin
Largest US defence contractor - spends $14million pa on professional lobbyists.
Claims to offer jobs in 46 states for its F35 fighter jet. Has been described as being too big for government to allow to fail.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a cause group that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving and prevent underage drinking. The organisation was founded in 1980 after a drunk driver killed Candace Lightner’s 13-year old daughter. There is at least one MADD office in every state of the United States
Examples of impact:
1984: MADD influences the passing of the federal National Minimum Legal Drinking Act (MLDA),
Its greatest success was in enacting a 1984 federal law, the National Minimum Drinking
Age Act, raising the legal drinking age to 21 years old. The act used federal leverage by introducing a federal penalty of a 10% loss of federal highway dollars for any state that didn’t raise the minimum legal age of alcohol to 21. This was later upheld by SCOTUS in South Dakota v Dole (1987), with all states making necessary adjustments by 1988.
MADD was heavily involved in lobbying to reduce the legal limit for blood alcohol from BAC .10 to BAC .08. In 2000, this standard was passed by Congress and by 2004, every state had a legal .08 BAC limit.
MADD claims that drunk driving has been reduced by half since it’s foundation in September 1980.
